With Hours to Go, Who Has Called for a Halt to William Morva Execution?

Here’s a partial list, with just a day to go (execution scheduled for 9 pm, July 6), of groups and individuals who have called for Gov. Terry McAuliffe to commute the death sentence of William Morva, who committed heinous crimes but is severely mentally ill.

• UN calls on Gov. McAuliffe to halt William Morva’s execution: “In a joint statement, UN special rapporteur for arbitrary executions, Agnes Collamard, and special rapporteur for mental health, Dainius Puras, said, ‘We are deeply concerned about information we have received indicating that Mr. Morva’s original trial did not meet fair trial safeguards.'”
• Former Democratic Lt. Governor candidates Gene Rossi and Susan Platt
• Sister Helen Prejean: “The whole world is watching, waiting to see if @GovernorVA @TerryMcAuliffe stops the planned execution of Will Morva, a mentally ill man.”
• Daughter of one of Morva’s victims seeks clemency for her father’s killer: “In an email to members of the media on Wednesday, Rachel Sutphin, daughter of Eric Sutphin, wrote: ‘I am against the death penalty for religious and moral reasons. I have fought and will continue to fight for clemency for all death row inmates until Virginia declares the death penalty unconstitutional.'”
• Representatives Bobby Scott and Gerry Connolly: “.@BobbyScott joins @GerryConnolly & a growing list of supporters asking @GovernorVA for #Mercy4Morva! VA plans to execute William tomorrow.”
• Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA-08)
• ACLU Virginia
  
• Delegate Mark Levine: Morva “should [not] die because of a lack of due process.”
• National Alliance on Mental Illness: “with delusional disorder, an acute psychotic disorder similar to schizophrenia. While Morva’s crimes were horrific, there is strong evidence that they were the product of his delusional symptoms and that without these symptoms, it is highly unlikely that he would have shot the officers.”
• Delegates Bagby, Bell, Bourne, Boysko, Filler-Corn, Herring, Hope, Krizek, Lindsey, Lopez, Plum Rasoul, Sickles, Simon, Sullivan, Ward, Watts; and Senators Ebbin, Favola, Locke, Spruill, Surovell: “Our support of commutation is based on an appreciation of the unusual circumstances of Mr. Morva’s case, as we understand them.”
• UPDATE Thursday afternoon: State Senator Louise Lucas and Delegate Kaye Kory have added their names, as has Delegate Delores McQuinn.
• House Democratic Leader David Toscano: “Many of us will be holding watch tonight and tomorrow to see if clemency is granted.”
• Amnesty International: “@GovernorVA is about to make a decision about executing William Morva. Help get #Mercy4Morva & stop his execution. 1855-637-1740”
• European Union trying to block William Morva execution: “Both Hungary and the European Union have reached out to Governor McAuliffe to stop the execution. According to the Mercy for Morva Group, he is a Hungarian-American dual national.”
• Former House of Delegates Democratic candidate Ken Boddye: “We say that we as @vademocrats oppose the death penalty and support those with mental illness. Time to walk the talk. @MercyforMorva”
• Washington Post editorial board: “Mr. McAuliffe should look favorably on the petition for clemency before him and commute Mr. Morva’s sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He should also ensure that Mr. Morva receives the mental-health treatment he so obviously needs. The killing of two devoted public servants is a tragedy, but the state of Virginia will not right this wrong by getting more blood on its hands.”
• Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty: “Ask Governor McAuliffe to spare the life of Mr. Morva.”
• Virginia Council of Churches
• Democratic House of Delegates candidates Steve McBride (HD-8), Kelly Fowler (HD-21), Angela Lynn (HD-25), Brent Finnegan (HD-26), Ben Hixon (HD-30), Kellen Squire (HD-58), Roslyn Tyler (HD-75)
• Prince William County School Board Chair Ryan Sawyers
• Kelly Fowler – “As the Democratic Nominee for Delegate in the 21st District, I would like to express the same statement given by many Delegates-Delegates Bagby, Bell, Bourne, Boysko, Filler-Corn, Herring, Hope, Krizek, Lindsey, Lopez, Plum Rasoul, Sickles, Simon, Sullivan, Ward, Watts; and Senators Ebbin, Favola, Locke, Spruill, Surovell: ‘Our support of commutation is based on an appreciation of the unusual circumstances of Mr. Morva’s case, as we understand them.’”